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First Baptist Church 



1781 FALL RIVER. MASS. 1881 






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Centennial Anniversary, 



FEB. 15, 1881. 



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FALL RIVER: 

Al^it, Milxe & Co., Printers, 
• 1881. 



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1781 FALL RIVER. MASS. 1881 

U 



Centennial Anniversary, 



FEB. 15, 1881 



"We have heard with our ears, God our fathers 
have told us what work thou didst in their days in the 
times offjld:*—Ps. 44 : 1. 






On January 9, 1881, the church appointed a com- 
mittee to make arrangements for the observance of the 
centennial anniversary of the organization of the 
church. The members of the committee were, the 
Pastor, and brethren J. C. Blaisdell, Edward 
Warren, H. S. Buffixto^ and B. M. Warren. 

It was requested that the pastor should preach a 
Memorial Sermon ; that Bro. J. E. Dawley should 
give a historical account of the church ; and Bro. J. C. 
Blaisdell a history of the Sunday School. 

February 28, the church instructed the Commit- 
tee of Arrangements to publish the memorial sermon, 
and such facts from the historical address, which had 
already been published in the city papers, as it might 
be more convenient to have recorded in a condensed 
form . 



LC Control Number 




tmp96 031695 



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; [; MEMORI A L SERMON [ 



BY THE PASTOR, 



MV. A. X. P. SMALL, D. D., 



Sunday Morning, Feb. 13, 1881 



E ii M a\ > 



....■•.nS^liini... 

Exodus 12 : 1-1 — ww And this day shall be unto you for 

<( memorial." 

NTERESTING memorials have marked the 
prominent events of sacred history. At special 
points, along the great historic journey, eminent 
leaders erected a stone, a pillar, a monument ; estab- 
lished a festival, a convocation, — memorials of the facts 
t<> be particularly remembered. 

The memorial of this text was to commemorate 
Israel's starting toward their promised home. The 
sprinkled blood, the seven days* feast, was to mark a 
perpetual memorial, throughout all their generations, 
each year. But the memorial to which we now come 
has but one place, in the longer year of ten decades. 
Once approaching it, must be, to us, for the first and 
last time. 

Ignoble would be forgetfulness of our Christian 
ancestry. Whatever of value belongs to this church, 
makes it the debt of gratitude to remember its birth- 
dav, which occurred a hundred years ao;o. That birth- 
day scene — how impossible to have reproduced. An 
accurate photograph of that scene, would now be — 



C5 FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH. 

what a prize, what a remarkable relic. To discern 
faintest outline of it, we must peer through the mists 
of imperfect record and tradition, to a point more than 
seventy years beyond the limits of the present city 
history, more than thirty years beyond the first Post 
Office in this town, more than twenty years beyond the 
time when the wild river of leaping falls gave name to 
the town ; when the quick-running, falling water, — 
Quequechan, — was flowing free through its own wil- 
derness career ; more than thirty years before it was 
first harnessed to machinery for changing cotton into 
yarn, which must then be woven by hand in private 
dwellings ; and more than sixty vears before intrusive 
City Hall or Granite Block presumed to plant them- 
selves over it, depriving the sparkling waters of their 
natural right to the light of the sun. 

This church, therefore, has been a factor of the en- 
tire history of this community, since its germ village, in 
the outskirts of Freetown, was at Steep Brook, in the 
darkest year of the revolutionary war, when, amid the 
struggles of pioneer courage and peculiar faith, this 
church had its birth, commencing the line of his- 
tory, extending through the most eventful century, 
the more interesting details of which it has been 
assigned to others, most appropriately, to recount. 

Since it is not expected of me to enter, now, into 
particulars of this family history, which* will be so 
fully set before you, it may be only my part, at the 
opening of these memorial services, to allude to the 
opening of the history which is to be traced ; to some 
of the facts connected with the opening of this sacred 
household. 

The design of a memorial is to make real what 
is to be remembered. Were it possible for me to take 



FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH. . i 

you back to the real scenes of that starting point, I 
could ask for nothing more interesting than for you to 
stand there, for these moments, and look around, catch- 
ing as much as possible of the answer to this question : 
What was the actual situation then? What some of 
the main facts connected with the organization of this 
church? 

We now break completely loose from everything 
modern, going back a century in a moment, to be with 
the great-great-grandfathers and grandmothers of a hun- 
dred years ago. We go through the air; and turning 
our great horoscopic telescope, to look through the 
other end, we now see them there — the Boomers, the 
Freemans, the Crockers, — the original thirty of this 
church. Their antique little village, of a dozen dwell- 
ings and a hundred inhabitants, on the bank of the 
river — how quiet, although in constant excitement. 
They are thirty years distant from any clatter of a 
cotton mill; and the infant just born, to live seventy 
years, will die before the town will be disturbed by 
sound of a locomotive engine. 

The war claims first attention. The British from 
Newport have recently been as near as Stone Bridge. 
and all industry and economy cannot furnish requisite 
supplies for home and for the army. Continental 
money is becoming nearly worthless. Four months' 
pay of a soldier will hardly procure a bushel of wheat, 
and the pay of a colonel scarcely furnishes sufficient 
oats for his horse. In some private houses is a small 
forge, where the boys spend the evenings in making 
nails. The pianofortes in constant use are the spinning 
wheels and hand looms ; for the aristocracy of the 
colony, including the governor and lieutenant governor, 
have just entered into an agreement to wear only home- 



8 FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH. 

spun clothes, and a spinning match is held at the house 
of Rev. Mr. Murry, in Newbury, on which interesting 
occasion he preaches a sermon from this text : 

Exodus 35 : 25 — "And all the women, that were wise 
hearted, did spin 'with their hands" 

Once a week the shrill horn of the mounted mail- 
carrier is heard, when a copy of the little Boston 
Geizette, of coarse brown paper, dropped at the grocery, 
may give some tidings of General Washington's move- 
ments : and if a letter arrived from any great distance, 
some whole family must combine to raise the two 
shillings eight pence postage. On a Sunday morn- 
ing, the people are coming, in their very best, from 
Freetown, Dartmouth and Tiverton, the men with 
continental three-cornered hats, plated buttons and 
knee buckles, the good wife mounted on the pillion 
behind her husband, and coming, not to a meeting- 
house, but to the private residence of some brother, 
where they are to enjoy a good feast of their own kind of 
preaching from some visitor, perhaps Elder Thomp- 
son, of Swanzey. 

At such a time, what brings them together for the 
organization of a church ? It was not their pre-emi- 
nent wisdom, or knowledge of the greatness of the 
work which they commenced. The peculiar greatness 
of the Xew England fathers was, faithfulness in their 
oavii places, as essential links in a chain of movements 
greater than they ever projected, of the end of which 
they had no conception, God working through them 
vastly more than they knew. 

Was it supreme wisdom of human statesmanship 
for the Old Congress, in Xew York, six years after the 
organization of this church, to pass an ordinance for 
the government of a certain wilderness northwest of 



FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH. - V 

the Ohio river, forever excluding slavery from it ? 
When that wilderness territory had become the great 
Western States, with one-fourth of the population of 
the republic, Chief Justice Chase, referring to that 
famous ordinance of 1787, which had been called "the 
pillar of cloud and fire'' for the imperial West, said it 
had " mightily exceeded" all thought or anticipation of 
those who passed it. Those organizing this church 
saw nothing of its future. It had in visible prospect, 
only such self-denying struggles against peculiar dis- 
advantages as to offer nothing for worldly ambition. 
We must listen to their own words ; and while look- 
ing, with our historic telephone catching now the actual 
religious conversation and preaching of that time, we 
find that those disciples were particularly influenced 
by their interest in fundamental gospel truth, particu- 
larly those doctrines of experimental religion which 
they found to be apostolic and in accordance with their 
own experience. Because of a remarkable history, 
their distinctive position was evidently taken with 
special reference to these three fundamental points : 
Personal regeneration ; an apostolic church of regener- 
ated members ; and the church, with Christ alone as 
Head, entirely free from all political or State control. 
Not, as so many have supposed, was their special 
interest for the mere form of an ordinance, so much as 
for the privilege of any gospel ordinance distinct from 
State ordinances. Their special grief was an enforced 
connection with the State Church, which did not regard 
conversion essential to membership, or even to a place 
in the ministry. 

After the great Whit eH eld awakening, more than 
twenty ministers of the State Church, or Standings 
Order, as it was called, at one time, in Massachusetts 



10 FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH. 

alone, were brought to acknowledge that they had 
never before known Christ. But the special church 
action at that time was most particularly influenced 
by the peculiar legislation concerning religion. 

We alluded to a birth-day of peculiar courage. Did 
it require special courage for a few peasant disciples 
to unite for the quiet worship of a church ? Ah ! if it 
was a Baptist church. Taking the position of a Bap- 
tist church, had cost banishment. During the hundred 
previous years, back to the time that the "first little 
church had been driven farther into the Swanzey wil- 
derness from Rehoboth, the position of a Baptist had 
required more courage than that of a soldier in the 
army. It had cost sharper persecution, hardship, 
suffering, than British rulers ever attempted in this 
country. Too incredible and distant that now seems 
for any notice, only as a centennial mention of most 
useless fossils, of which nobody cares to preserve a 
specimen. It seems impossible that the most promi- 
nent thing before the minds of those organizing this 
church was the fact that, for taking that position, some 
of their friends had recently been fined ; their cattle, 
farming tools, household furniture, had been seized 
and sold ; some persons had been publicly whipped, 
imprisoned, or banished from the colony. 

Why? The explanation is very easy. The State 
Church was virtually the political power, Or a promi- 
nent element of it. Entrance to it was made easy 
without a gospel profession of faith, for those wishing 
to belong to the dominant power, for the support of 
which all citizens must be taxed. Then, of course, 
Baptists must be silenced, or banished, since they 
stood for the idea that worship should be free ; that 
the Gospel Church is a volunteer spiritual body, entirely 



FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH. 11 

free from State control; that it is not the province of 
civil law to control spiritual life. To silence that idea, 
how many since the days of the apostles " have had 
their utterances hushed in martyrdom !" 

The relation of the ecclesiastical to the civil power 
has been a problem of the ages. That is really the 
perplexing problem in many countries in the Old 
World to-day. Even enlightened Christian England 
does not yet clearly see through it. The difficulties of 
that problem sent both Puritans and Pilgrims to 
American shores. But how imperfect the solution, 
even in their own minds. Religious liberty was the 
ostensible object of their search. But how long and 
tenaciously they clung to the idea that it must be the 
liberty of State authority to control the worship of 
every man, or banish him from citizenship. Though 
acknowledging Jesus as King, how slow to understand 
His own declaration, that His kingdom is not of 
this world ; its conquests not by the force of civil 
power. 

In that world-wide struggle for separation of 
Church and State, for liberty to worship in simple 
apostolic order, it has seemed to be the special call of 
Baptists, in this and other countries, to stand for cen- 
turies almost alone ; to stand, Sir Isaac Newton said, 
"the only body of Christians that had never symbol- 
ized with the Church of Rome ;" in whose code of 
laws, established in Rhode Island, said Chief Justice 
Story, " we read for the first time since Christianity 
ascended the throne of the Caesars, the declaration that 
conscience should be free." That declaration had cost 
double banishment ; first from the Old World to the 
wilds of this coast, then from the jurisdiction of Massa- 
chusetts Bav to the wilderness retreat which, in errati- 



12 FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH. 

tude for his almost miraculous escape, Roger Williams 
called Providence, almost two hundred years before 
that declaration found complete legal sanction in this 
Bay State. 

According to the record of Mr. Backus, " the Bap- 
tists were driven into the wilderness, were scourged by 
order of the civil power, were spoiled of their goods, 
were cast into prison, were pelted by violence of mobs, 
were falsely accused ; their principles were caricatured, 
their petitions slighted." 

After many years of vain attempts to obtain from 
the General Court their share of the common rights, 
which the Charter of William and Mary guaranteed 
to all, ten years before the organization of this church, 
the Warren Association resolved to send to the British 
Court for defence of liberty, which the more oppressive 
colonial enactments denied to them ; yet the Baptists 
were so hearty in the desire for national liberty that 
u they were exceedingly reluctant to lay their com- 
plaints at the foot of the throne." At length came on 
the great Revolution, and that was for what ? What 
moved all the people to such union in that heroic 
struggle? The hope of freedom from oppression. 
What oppression? Britain had, indeed, put a tax 
upon tea. Nobody was compelled to buy it. A petty 
tax upon tea, or commercial paper, had caused no 
suffering, no confiscation of goods, or imprisonment. 
But the unjust principle of the smallest taxation with- 
out representation, aroused united patriotism to resist 
it. Yet, strange to say, in the very year before the 
opening battle of Lexington, eighteen members of a 
Baptist church were imprisoned in Northampton jail, 
for refusing to pay taxes to a church in which they had 
no representation. The odious tea they could toss into 



FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH. 13 

Boston harbor, but they were obliged to swallow the 
preaching of the government minister, though both 
taste and price were more unwelcome. 

Like the loyal slaves in our late war, they confi- 
dently hoped the struggle of the Revolution would 
bring a recognition of their citizen and Christian 
rights. But in the very midst of that war, within the 
year of the organization of this church, Massachusetts 
adopted its new State constitution, in which, despite 
most earnest discussions, remonstrances, entreaties, 
were retained elements of the same oppressive enact- 
ments ; the puritanic statesmen still thinking it would 
be unsafe for the State to allow entire freedom of wor- 
ship. John Adams then said, " A change in the solar 
system might be expected as soon as a change in that 
ecclesiastical system of Massachusetts." The position 
of a Baptist church could not, then, have been chosen 
for popular favor ; it was, indeed, almost outside the 
limits of any fellowship. 

For mutual encouragement, four widely separated 
churches had united to form the Warren Association, 
fourteen years prior to this organization. But sad 
experience had made Baptists so fearful of religious 
combinations, that for eighteen years this church ven- 
tured no connection, even with that Association of its 
own faith, preferring to stand in independent loyalty 
to Christ as only Master and Lord. 

Hence the courage referred to, of that birth-day, — 
venturing to take that name and place at just the time 
when, as a recent historian records it, the newly 
adopted constitution " made every Baptist church in 
Massachusetts an outlaw, to be uprooted and destroyed, 
or only suffered to exist under restrictions." 

Thus have we stood with those pioneers, looking 

9 



14 FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH. 

around upon the precise condition of things, on the 
fifteenth day of February, 1781, in the fifth dark year 
of the Revolutionary war, when this church was 
organized. 

The honored and deeply lamented historian of 
Brown University, in an able review five years ago, 
alluded to the " contemptuous treatment" which the 
Baptist petitioners for liberty received from the Massa- 
chusetts delegation to the Continental Congress, and 
said : — " It is only when we recall such facts, that we 
can appreciate the full extent of the Revolution in 
public sentiment which the past century has witnessed." 

And now, from the stand-point of that birth-day 
of 1781, how shall we safely return to our home of 
1881 without trespass upon the intervening century 
history, through which others are to be competent 
guides, this afternoon ? We must come as we went, 
through the air ; while, for safe guidance, our flight 
over the hundred years may be just near enough to 
earth for glimpses at the line of those on the watch 
towers. 

Our point of departure is at a private house, where 
the original thirty become " The Baptist Church of 
Christ in Freetown, Dartmouth and Tiverton." Two 
years down the sacred fine, in another private house, 
we discern Rev. Amos Burrows receiving ordination 
to be pastor for one year. Twelve years farther on, 
at another ordination scene, appears that remarkable 
watchman, " blind as to natural sight, but having such 
spiritual light as to be esteemed a clear preacher of 
the gospel," who, with fourteen years of colleague 
assistance, at different times, by pastors Boomer, Ross 
and Miner, continued to be the chief shepherd of the 
flock for thirty-eight years, when, like rejoicing Simeon, 



FIEST BAPTIST CHURCH. 15 

Father Borden might well have felt ready to depart, 
so nearly reaching the memorable event of 1838, — this 
lono; sought amendment to the State Bill of Rights : 
" All religious sects and denominations, demeaning 
themselves peaceably and as good citizens of the Com- 
mon wealth, shall be equally under the protection of the 
law ; and no subordination of any one sect or denomi- 
nation to another shall be established by law/' 

To secure this, the Baptists took their stand in 
Rhode Island a hundred and ninety-seven years before, 
the religious victory which, at the birth of this church, 
seemed to him who was to be the second President of 
the Republic as little to be expected as a change in the 
solar system. God moves not as the wisest man fore- 
sees ! But onward we fly over the fourteen years, 
during which the honored Bronson is the pulpit way- 
mark, as pastor, then son-in-law, in the flourishing 
family of the eldest daughter ; then — O, can we not 
pause in our flight, to live again through the next eight 
years with those whom we had hoped to see standing 
together here to-day, that the whole family might rise 
up again in the honored presence of pastors Hotchkiss 
and Mason. 

Onward, through the next seventeen years, we 
seem to be catching the benediction of those now 
receiving higher honors than any church on earth can 
give, — pastors whose names need not here be spoken, — 
too early in heaven, it seemed to us. We are passing 
almost within the tones of pastor Eddy's voice, after 
which the church has reached such strength and amaz- 
mg magnanimity as almost to surpass the patience of 
the persecuted fathers in enduring in the pulpit, the 
smallest of all ; and now, so quickly again on this side 
the century history, in our present position, we may 



16 FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH. 

perhaps stand for another moment, and look around 
upon what would have been a hundred times more 
wonderful to our ancestors of a hundred years ago. 
Their best glasses caught no glimmer of our times. 

Where are the conflicts of that birth-day ? That 
proved to be almost the crisis day of both the national 
and ecclesiastical struggles. Those peculiar battles 
were then nearly over, and, " like a receding thunder- 
storm, their noise has long since died away on the far 
horizon." Fortunately, this church had its home in 
this 2Jlace 5 where public sentiment never sanctioned reli- 
gious persecution. On this point of territory, between 
the river and the sea, the atmosphere was always too 
free for the intermeddling of official troubles. 

Churches of other denominations, thirty-five years 
later, began to assist in forming a neighborhood of 
Christian families, whose whole career has been one of 
remarkable harmony and fraternal co-operation. Rev. 
Mr. Fowler left this record : — " Though this people are 
divided into so many sects, each of which is neither 
slow nor timid to assert and defend its distinctive doc- 
trinal peculiarities, yet perhaps there is no town in 
New England where more general harmony prevails, 
or kinder neighborhood intercourse is enjoyed, or 
where the members of different denominations shake 
hands more cordially." 

The amazing progress of the century can£>e claimed 
by no single church, denomination or department of 
life, while the changes mav be nowhere more remark- 
able than in the particular to which our present survey 
must be confined. This church, instead of remaining 
alone, looking out upon one little Baptist Association 
in all New England, is now connected with fourteen 
Massachusetts Associations, of two hundred and eighty- 



FIRST BAPTIST I HTJKCEL 17 

nine churches and nearly fifty thousand members. It 
lives to see the churches of its denomination in the 
whole country increase from 500 to 26,000, and their 
membership from 55,000 to 2,296,327. 

It was thirty years after the organisation of this 
church, when our first missionaries left for foreign 
lands: now we have almost a thousand churches and 

more than eighty-live thousand nit-mber- in Europe 
and Asia, the largest missionary membership of any 
denomination in America : only three of our benevo- 
lent societies — the Missionary Union, the Home Mis- 
sion, and Publication Society — expending three-fourths 
of a million dollar- annually. Instead of one little 
college, it- building occupied for military barracks, its 
president an army -recruiting officer, as a hundred 
years ago. it- present honored head — worthy success i 
of Manning and Wayland — with us to-day. may now 
consider himself father of more than thirty vigorous 
Baptist colleges, eight theological seminaries, some 
fifty academies, in which may now be ten thousand 
students, in this country, with many more abroad, 
indicating our item toward the advancing light and 
cultured manhood of the world. The reported increase 
of our churches for the last ten years is at the rate of 
fourteen each week, or two each day. While the 
whole population of the country, including the immense 
immigration, chiefly of other sects, has been increasing 
only twenty-four per cent., the Baptist increase has 
been fifty-one per cent. 

As due expression of gratitude, how appropriate 
to stop and turn from everything else, once in a cen- 
tury, for united thanksgiving for such a remarkable 
history of blessing and enlargement. This, certainly. 
has not come from any pre-eminent excellence of our 



18 FIKST BAPTIST CHURCH. 

people ; not because they have greatly surpassed others 

in purity, learning, wisdom or holiness. It would be 
safer and more modest to accept, as the secret of such 
peculiar growth, the explanation of that eminent au- 
thority of another denomination, already quoted. This 

is the statement of Prof. Diman : — " The Baptists made 
their appeal to Scripture, as the sole authority. To 
that fundamental principle, through all their history, 
they have steadfastly adhered. The famous maxim, 
" The Bible — the Bible only." has found with them its 
most consistent advocates ; and their growth was. in 
a large part, a democratic protest against exclusive- 
ness — a stand for ecpial religious right-." 

How singular a prevalent idea, that the chief Bap- 
tist peculiarity is exclusivene>s. so exactly contrary t< i 
the fact that their distinctive position was chiefly a 
protest against the exclusiveness of any superior 
culture, or power, or sect, — a position for largest lib- 
erty, for equal religious privileges. And such growth. 
according to this historic authority, seems to have 
been because their distinctive position proved to be 
for those principles which God. for the honor of His 
own Word, and the common people, for their own 
liberty, must have vindicated. And how wonderfully 
they have been vindicated. This church has lived to 
see all the people now perfectly united in the enjoy- 
ment of equal religious liberty; rejoicing in not now 
claiming to be distinguished from other denominations 
in requiring a confession of personal faith, as a condi- 
tion of church membership. 

"Those principles." says a recent writer. " are now 
the accepted faith of Christendom." And. evidently 
without thinking how delightfully he was turning that 
old solar system illustration, this writer adds: — " Those 



FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH. 19 

principles for which the fathers so long contended 
and suffered, would no more be questioned to-day than 
the movements of the earth around the sun, or the force 
of gravitation. n — his way of saying "Solar System." 

The Baptists can. by no means, now claim pecu- 
liarity in the idea that those coming to the Communion 
should be the baptized church. And whatever seems 
to remain of their special distinction now. with what 
remarkable unanimity the highest Biblical authorities 
declare it is eminently Scriptural ; impressing this 
lesson, that the hope of the church is not in improved 
human devices, or the secured comforts of a few, but 
clinging T0 t i ie simplicity of the Word and Christ-like 
zeal for elevating and saving all the people. Our 
fathers proved that.- even in weakness, armed with 
eternal truth, they could triumph through adversity. 
It remains to see if the sons, careless of the truth, will 
make shipwreck of prosperity. 

The church of a hundred years ago ! Where is 
that ? How long since all its members, and their 
children, passed from earth. How soon not one of 
all these thronging congregations of to-day will be 
among the living. At the next anniversary, not one 
of our children, or children's children, may be the 
living historian, to recount the events through which 
we are now passing. But the church is not dead ; it 
lives, and will live. Its foundation remains unshaken. 
Its future has the security of covenant divine. This 
branch of the church lives, not houseless, as a hundred 
years ago, but in its honored sanctuary, from which, 
one year ago to-day, was the triumphant removing of 
all incumbrance ; and with its parsonage — perhaps too 
beautiful and comfortable — what furnishing and van- 
tage ground, if now thoroughly reconsecrated to Christ, 
for a new centurv career. 



20 FIRST BAPTIST CHTTBOH. 

Therefore, it is peculiar honor and gratification for 
me to be permitted to echo the hearty welcome to the 
gathering, with the fathers, mothers, "brothers, sisters, 
friends, around the sacred hearthstone, for these 
successive services. In renewing of spiritual life and 
covenant, for united onward career, under the special 
divine benediction, may it prove to be a blessed Me- 
morial unto you. 




ty^mVk. 



FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH. -1 



INTRODUCTORY NOTE. 
It is due to Brethren Dawlet and Blaisdell to have it dis- 
tinctly stated, that the following are not the interesting historical 
addresses, as delivered by them on the anniversary occasion. The 
Committee, as instructed, omitting portions important for public 
address, took large liberty in arranging the interesting matter 
furnished in the addresses, with added details, in the direct order 
of events, for convenience of reference, thus sacrificing rhetorical 
beauty for a connected record of plain historic facts. 



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BY HOX. J. E. DAWLEY. 



The earliest extant record of the church, the cen- 
tennial anniversary of which we now celebrate, is found 
in exactly this form : 

"Febuary the 15th day 1781. 

then was Established the 2nd baptis church of Christ 
In Freetown, In fellowship with Elder Thompson's 
and Elder Luises Churches." 

It is supposed that the organization of the church 
was in the house of one Jonathan Brownell. that stood 
on what is now Xorth Main street, east from the house 
of worship of the Third Baptist Church. There were 
thirty constituent members of the church, — sixteen 
men and fourteen women. — whose names may be found 
in a church manual. On the 22d of May, 1783, was 
the ordination of the first pastor — Elder Amos Bur- 



22 FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH. 

rows. The ordination service was conducted by Elders 
Thompson of Swanzey, Burrows of Tiverton, and Goff 
of Dighton, in the house of Samuel Warren. After an 
unfortunate pastorate of one year, Mr. Burrows re- 
moved to Vermont. It seems that a regular church 
meeting was held on the second seventh day in each 
month, that " George Crocker was appointed to keep 
the church book," and that those meetings were con- 
sidered as important as preaching services, since it was 
" Voted, that our stated meetings should not be set 
aside, notwithstanding a minister should be present at 
any such meeting." 

Five years after Mr. Burrows left, the church chose 
two of their own useful and promising young men, 
"To improve their gifts in public, and to attend meet- 
ings where they shall be requested ;" and three years 
later, appears an arrangement for more regular public 
worship. It was voted that one of those brethren, 
who from his eighteenth year had been blind, ; ' should 
improve one half of the Lord's day, that Brother 
iSTathaniel Boomer read the psalm, and that Mathew 
Boomer take the lead of the sinoinov' After three 
years more proof of their real worth, on the third 
Thursday of May, 1795, occurred the double ordina- 
tion of those two young men, James Boomer and Job 
Borden. The ministers participating in the ordination 
service were Elders Thompson, Burrows,* Hathaway 
and Baker. During the same month the church invited 
Joseph Stillwell and Nathaniel Boomer "to act as 
deacons till some should be chosen." Four years later, 
in 1799, the church joined the Warren Association. 

For about eight years the two pastors labored 
faithfully together, when a threatening cloud is indi- 
cated by this record of Dec. 9, 1803 : — " This day is a 



FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH. 23 

trying scene to us : both our Elders think of leaving 
us : — may the God of Heaven protect us/' And God 
did protect them, for while Elder Boomer asked for 
his dismission to go to Charlton, where he died Feb. 
24, 1837. Elder Job Borden remained the honored 
pastor of the church. 

On June 13. 1789. was a meeting of a committee 
" concerning the Meeting House/' That first Meeting 
House, at the Xarrows, must have been opened for 
worship about the year 1800, when the church, which 
for some time had been known as " The Church in 
Freetown, Dartmouth and Tiverton." by a second 
change of name, came to be called " The Second Bap- 
tist Church in Tiverton/* 

" The church in -Tiverton^ under the pastoral care 
of Elders James Boomer and Job Borden." invited a 
council to meet at the house of Gamaliel Warren, Oct. 
30, 1799. when there Avas the triple ordination of James 
Reed as an itinerant preacher, and Nathaniel Boomer 
and Joseph Stillwell as deacons. Two years later — 
Xov. 13, 1802 — is found in the records this first allu- 
sion to the new meeting house : — " Chose George 
Crocker to have the care of the meeting hou^t." 
Plainly, then, worship commenced in that house be- 
tween 1799 and 1802. 

There are but brief records of the church for the 
next twenty-rive years ; this single item giving a 
glimpse of the public worship: — " Sept. 2, 1813, chose 
John Davol to read the him, etc., in publick." 

During the two years 1827 — 1829. Rev. Arthur Ross 
acted as colleague pastor, receiving a part of his sup- 
port for services as school teacher. Those two years 
are memorable for the first great revival in the history 
of the church, in which more than ninetv were added 



24: FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH. 

to its membership ; for the third change of the name 
of the church, when it became fc * The First Baptist 
Church of Trov; for the building of the second meet- 
ing house ; and the organization of kw The Baptist 
Female Charitable Society," one of whose first enter- 
prises was " to procure the trimmings and dress the 
meeting house/' 

Mr. Ross was born in Thompson, Conn., in 1791; 
ordained in 1819. A great revival attended his first 
pastorate. After six years in Connecticut and two' in 
Fall River, he was pastor in Bristol. Coventry, War- 
wick, Xewport, Lonsdale, Xatick, and, finally, in 
Pawtucket, where, in Christian triumph, he died June 
16, 1864. His talents, studiousness and piety made 
him a man of remarkable power. He published sev- 
eral valuable historical pamphlets, and during his 
ministry baptized more than fourteen hundred persons. 

The new meeting house referred to was the one on 
South Main street, afterwards sold to the Episcopal 
church. It was dedicated July 30. 1828. The sermon 
was preached by Elder Choules of Xewport ; and on 
the evening of the same day, Enoch French and John 
Davol were ordained as much needed younger deacons ; 
and at the next meeting it was voted "that the church 
be considered a Sunday School Society.*" 

In connection with the new village meeting house. 
appeared an evident tendency toward fashion. It was 
voted to purchase candlesticks for the evening meet- 
ings, the Association was invited, and X. White, R. 
Wrightington and William Ashley were appointed to 
u seat the house ;" and Deacon French, A. Hall and 
P. Smith were chosen to take charge of the bass viol. 
It is possible that the violins were in such demand 
elsewhere that three church officers could not exercise 



FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH. liO 

exclusive control of them. Fortunately, perhaps, there 
followed some checks to undue vanity, for it was voted 
u to withdraw fellowship from Israel C. Durfee for his 
remarks respecting building our meeting house, in 
which he manifested a covetous disposition, and for 
his unrichous remark in relation to our young deacons. 
French and Davol." 

Elder Seth Ewer was obtained to supply the pulpit 
for the year 1829. 

The interesting young preacher. Rev. Bradly 
Miner, was next called to the pulpit. He was born in 
Xorth Stonington, Ct., July 18, 1808 : was converted and 
baptized in his thirteenth year ; and having studied at 
Xewton. Mass, and Hamilton. X. Y„ was ordained at 
Fall River, July 14. 1830. Elders Ewer, Perry. Phillips. 
Choules. Welch, Philleo. with Elders Webb, of the 
Methodist, and Smith, of the Congregational church, 
participated in the interesting ordination services. He 
successfully filled the office of pastor for about three 
years, when, being still a young man. he felt con- 
strained to resign for the opportunity of more study 
and renewed health. He was afterward settled in 
Pawtuxet and TToonsocket. R. I., at Dorchester and 
Pittsfield. Mass.. and lastly with the Friendship Street 
Baptist Church in Providence, where, amid abounding 
labors and signal ministerial prosperity, he suddenly 
died Oct. 28. 1854. He was remarkable for a soft. 
musical voice, animated manner, fervent piety, rare 
industry and wisdom, and during his ministry he bap- 
tized about four hundred persons. 

About the time that Mr. Miner left, the venerable 
senior pastor passed from earth. That remarkable 
man. blind from his youth, but of rare attainments, of 
sound common sense, the large hearted, devoted, faith- 

3 



26 FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH. 

iul minister, universally honored, after more than forty 
years of labor with the church of his youth, died Dec. 
31, 1832, aged 77 years. The church entered upon its 
record a grateful tribute to his memory, a full account 
of the largely attended funeral, (when the sermon was 
preached by Elder Welch of Warren,) and of the long 
procession of citizens following his remains to the 
place where they rest, beside those of his wives, in the 
old graveyard at the Narrows, near where the first 
house of worship stood. On his tombstone is found 
this inscription : — " He was an exemplary Christian, 
a sound divine, an acceptable preacher, a judicious 
counselor ; in short, a good minister of Jesus Christ." 
u Howl, fir tree, for the cedar is fallen." — Zach. 11:2. 

The church, a little past its half century point, had 
then reached a peculiar period of transition from the 
older to the later generation. Attention was soon 
turned to the one who was to be the leader into a new 
career of growth and prosperity. Rev. Asa Bronson 
became pastor April 4, 1833. He was a man of pecu- 
liar power and efficiency, remarkable for strength, 
soundness, richness of gospel resources and a warm 
heart, rather than for polished rhetoric. During the 
previous year, the Church and Society had been divided 
into twenty districts, each assigned to particular per- 
sons for religious visitation ; and three years later, 
sixteen brethren were appointed as special overseers of 
as many divisions of the church. About that time 
revised articles of faith were adopted, and Abiathar 
Hall and Stephen L. French were elected deacons. In 
1835 the modest little Meh-Shway-ee Society ap- 
peared, like an obscure fountain, whose broadening 
stream of pure, life-giving waters has steadily been 
flowing on for forty-five vears. 



FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH. . Zi 

111 1834, the name of the town was changed from 
Troy to Fall River, when there must he the fourth 
change in the name of the church ; and in 1836, the 

; * Female Charitable Society of Troy'' adopted a new 
constitution, by which the name became % - The Fall 
River Baptist Female Benevolent Society." In the 
same year, the church became one of the constituent 
members of the Taunton Baptist Association. 

The first covenant meeting was held in the vestry 
of the new house of worship, called the Temple, July 
1, 1840, and that house was dedicated Sept. 16 of that 
year. Some years before, the church had recorded 
this resolution : ** That we most earnestly and affec- 
tionately invite all the members of the church who are 
not not now members of the Temperance Society, 
immediately to become members, and throw all their 
influence in favor of Christian sobriety." Then followed 
the great Anti-Slavery struggle, in which this church 
took a foremost and unequivocal position. During 
the earnest discussions of the decade, from 1840 to 
1850, the bold pastor, deacons and members intro- 
duced, defended and had recorded, as the adopted 
sentiments of the church, such declarations as these : 
" Slavery is one of the a^oTossest sins ainst God and 
violations of the rights of man that can be committed/' 
;i Xo circumstances justify holding slaves." " This 
church, as an independent body, feels bound to bear 
its unequivocal testimony against the abominable sin 
of slavery." ;i TTe will not invite, or oUok\ a slave- 
holding minister to occupy the pulpit, or invite or 
allow a slaveholder to commune with us as a church." 
In June, 1850, it was voted that the third Thursday 
evening m each month be observed for religious con- 
ference and prayer on the subject of slavery: and in 



2* FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH. 

the letter to the Association, in September of that 
year was an expression of the views of the church 
against the sin of slavery. 

The church was blessed with two remarkable re- 
vivals, and during the eleven years of Mr. Branson's 
pastorate seven hundred and nine were added to the 
church- He was afterward pastor at Albany for two 
years, when he returned and became pastor of the 
Second Baptist Church in this city, and died Nov. 29, 
1866, ao^ed 68 years. He was succeeded in this church 
by Rev. V. E. Hotchkiss. who was publicly recognized 
as pastor Dec. 4. 1845. the sermon on that occasion 
being preached by Rev. William Hague of Bo-ton. 
With rapidly increasing population, the Baptist por- 
tion of the field had become too large for a single 
church. In all the Sunday Schools under its supervi- 
sion, eleven hundred members were reported. The 
time had come for new arrangements. The Second 
Baptist Church was recognized in September. 1^40. 
to become members of which about a hundred and 
seventy persons were dismissed from the First Church. 
which, by the fifth change of name, then came to be 
the " First Baptist Church of Fall River." The preach- 
ing of Pastor Hotchkiss was clear and logical, pecu- 
liarly rich in exposition, giving instruction to the 
church and sowing sc j ed for the future. Leaving this 
church in 1849. he was pastor of the Wellington 
Street Church in Buffalo. X. Y., for about six years. 
when he accepted a Professorship in Rochester Theo- 
logical Seminary. Having honorably filled that position 
for ten years, he was drawn back to his former posi- 
tion in Buffalo, where, for another period of fourteen 
years, he was the able pastor and preacher, and of late 
has been riving to the students of several Theological 



FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH. - '29 

Institutions rich fruits of his thought and experience 
in lectures upon Expository Preaching. 

The house called the " Temple" was conveyed to 
the Second Church in October, 1847, from which time 
this church worshipped in " Union Hall" till the first 
Sunday in 1850, when Rev. A. P. Mason having be- 
come pastor, the church entered the vestry of the new 
house on North Main street, which completed house 
was dedicated Oct. 23d. On the evening of the same 
day was the ordination of Rev. A. W. Carr, who was 
then a member of this church. Rev. R. E. Pattison, 
D. D., was one of the preachers, and the veteran mis- 
sionary. Rev. J. M. Haswcll. brother-in-law of Pastor 
Mason, was one of the large number of ministers united 
in the services of that very interesting day. 

Mr. Mason was a lineal descendant of the Samson 
Mason who was an officer in Cromwell's army. He 
came to America in 1650, and settled in Dorchester ; 
then removed to Rehoboth. and afterward, - for con- 
science sake." to Swansea, where he assisted to build 
the Baptist meeting house, for which he was summoned 
before the authorities of Plymouth Colony, fined fifteen 
shillings, and warned to leave the jurisdiction of the 
Colony. From that true Baptist stock descended our 
Pastor Mason, during whose faithful ministry of three 
years was an interesting revival, in which fifty-nine 
valuable members were added to the church. He was 
afterward pastor in Chelsea, and for several years has 
been District Secretary of the American Baptist Home 
Missionary Society. 

The next beloved pastor — Rev. Jacob R. Scott — 

j?ould be retained here for only the year 1853. He was 

educated at Brown University and at Xewton. He 

was pastor at Petersburg and Hampton, Ya., Portland, 



30 FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH. 

Me., Fall River, Mass., Rochester and Yonkers, X. Y., 
and finally Superintendent of Schools in Maiden, where 
he died Dec. 10, 1861, aged 46 years. 

After his resignation, Rev. Jonathan Aldrich suc- 
cessfully supplied the pulpit for nearly a year of 
delightful revival work, when Daniel J. Glazier was 
elected pastor. He was a young man of great promise, 
a graduate of Brown University and beloved by all 
who knew him. He was "the Student Preacher" of 
the beautiful biography written by his pastor, Dr. 
Turnbull. Before taking the ])lace,for which he seemed 
so peculiarly fitted, he suddenly died March 9, 1855. 
It was a great disappointment and affliction to the 
church. But one soon came to the vacant place, whose 
name will long continue to awaken most tender memo- 
ries. Rev. P. B. Haughwout became pastor in 1855. 
His rare and varied qualities, it is impossible to de- 
scribe. He was scholar, naturalist and preacher. It 
was difficult to tell in which department he was most 
brilliant. He had been called " the eloquent boy 
preacher," and was ordained when twenty-one years 
of age. He was pastor, for brief periods, of four 
churches, in Michigan and XeAv York, before coming 
to Fall River. His enthusiasm for books, for science, 
for the pulpit, was always beyond the endurance of his 
physical strength. In 1860 he went to Europe, remain- 
ing seven months, during which time the church or- 
dained, and had for acceptable supply, Rev. A. Juclson 
Padelford, and was blessed with an interesting revival. 
Pastor Haughwout gave to this church fifteen years of 
his most vigorous life, during which was his enthusi- 
astic share in the m-eat struggle against rebellion, and. 
the addition of more than two hundred to the church, 
when failing health made retirement essential. After- 



FEBST BAPTIST CHTTRCH. - 31 

ward he supplied the church in Dunkirk two years : 
then became pastor of the church in Jamestown. X. Y., 
where he very suddenly died April 26. 1877, in the 
49th year of his age. 

In l s 71. Daniel C. Eddy, D. D., became pastor. 
The house of worship was extensively remodeled and 
enlarged. The former pastors. Drs. Hotchkiss and 
Mason, with other clergymen of the city, took part in 
the interesting re-dedication services Sept. 8, 1872. 
On the evening of the first Sunday in the re-dedicated 
house, eleven persons were baptized. At nearly the 
same time, those member- who had been connected 
with the Mission at Bowenville were organized into 
the Third Baptist Church. After a rich revival, in 
which more than sixty were added to the church, Dr. 
Eddy closed a two years' pastorate, and was succeeded 
by the present pastor in l s 74. During the next year 
the parsonage, which was purchased in 1868, was 
removed, and a new, beautiful parsonage was built. 

During the year 1879 the city was blessed with a 
very remarkable and extensive revival, in connection 
with the preaching of Rev. Mr. Pentecost, the evangel- 
ist, as a result of which about seventy were added to 
this church. After a season of unusual business de- 
pression and financial disasters, Sunday. Feb. 8, 1880, 
was a day of very remarkable interest, when the 
Church and Society, with wonderful unanimity, cour- 
age and benevolence, rose up and cancelled the Society 
del»t of 120,000, and they come to this great anniver- 
sary with their excellent buildings paid for. 

The names of pastors are mentioned, because they 
may be more prominent wayrnarks on the watch towers, 
not because they are more deserving than other pillars 
of the church. The first two deacons, Stillwell and 



v>. 



2 FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH. 

Boomer, served the church, the one thirty-seven, the 
other forty-seven years. Their mantles fell on worthy 
successors — Deacons Enoch French and John Davol — 
both men of remarkable piety, Christian experience 
and devotions to the interests of the church, wonder- 
fully adapted to the duties of their time and place, and, 
in the family line of each, is a successor in the deacon- 
ship, worthily maintaining the honor of their sacred 
memory. Deacons Philip Smith, John E. Carr and 
Benjamin Buffinton, a trio of congenial spirits, followed 
in that honorable line. They were earnest, consistent 
men, adorning their profession, honoring their office, 
serving God and the church. Their memory is blessed. 
Those with, O what a company of the fathers and 
mothers, are among the departed: but whom fond 
memory has, almost visibly, among these gathering 
memorial guests. 

Love hallows every spot we tread. 

And memory is sweet beside, 
And, close, the living and the dead 

Walk, loving, side by side. 
They come to cheer ; and, oh, how much 

VTe need them here, our love to share ! 
They come to bless, we feel their touch, 

It thrills, and everywhere 
The mortal and immortal meet : 

Time sinks into a shoreless sea ; 
And now, thank God, their loosened feet 
Tread on eternity. 

Following the departed deacons, are Abiathar Hall, 
Stephen L. French and Seth Pooler, of the veterans. 
still remaining, with those younger deacons, who, by a 
later arrangement, have been elected for briefer terms 



FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH. 33 

of services, — Jesse F. Eddy, Joseph L. Buffing-ton, 
Edward Warren, Henry Richards, Geo. S. Davol and 

Henry S. Buffinton. With these might be mentioned 
the names of many valuable members, still living. But 
the time for their eulogy is not vet, — may it long be 
delayed. 

\Vith the most prominent and useful men. might, 
as properly, be mentioned the line of noble women 
who, since the organization of the " Woman's Chari- 
table Society" in 1828, for more than fifty years have 
continued the benevolent work for the poor and needy, 
gladdening many desolate hearts and homes, " the 
work still going on. the only changes being that the 
names of those who- rest from their labors are replaced 
by the children and grand-children of those whose 
lives are precious legacies to the church." Xone would 
regard it invidious to mention the single name, so 
beautifully connected with the origin of that little 
" Meh-Shway-ee Society," — the eminent example of 
Christian iiTeatness in little things, author of ** JBegin- 
rang to do Good" and " Continuing to do Good" — 
Laura H. Lovell, of blessed memory. 

" Sister, a little time, and we 

Who knew thee well, and loved thee here. 

One after one shall follow thee 
As pilgrims through the gate of fear, 

TV hich enters on eternity. 
Yet shall we cherish not the less 

All that is left our hearts meanwhile ; 
The memory of thy loA^eliness 

Shall round our weary pathway smile. 
Like moonlight when the sun has set — 
A sweet and tender radiance yet" 



34 FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH. 

Beside the ordinations already mentioned, the 
church ordained William Knapp, and it has licensed 
to preach Lorenzo Lovell, James Smithies, Andrew D. 
Milne, Alexander Carr and Charles E. Smith, all of 
whom became useful pastors except James Smithies, 
who died immediately after he became a licentiate. 

The Missionary Concert is observed on the first 
and the Sunday School Concert on the second Sunday 
evening in each month, and there are regular Sunday 
collections for benevolent purposes. The Sunday 
School and mission work will be duly recorded else- 
where. 

Such is but a meagre outline of the history of the 
church for a hundred years ; and this is probably the 
brighter portion of it. We are not to suppose that all 
were days of sunshine in the time of the fathers. Each 
step of their progress w^as through trials. It is noticed 
that the member whose name stands first on the record 
was almost immediately a subject of discipline. He 
was judged unworthy to have charge of the church 
book ; but it is an encouraging example of faithful 
discipline to find that about twenty years afterward he 
was found in the faithful care of the meeting house. 

The total membership of the church, for the cen- 
tury, has been not far from 1700, the larger part of 
whom are beyond the river of death. How soon shall 
we be of that number. But may the ever-living Head 
of the Church continue to raise up, for its membership, 
those who shall be as good pastors, deacons, — men and 
women as faithful of good works in the coming as in 
the past century. 

Oh Father, from Thy throne on high 
Look down upon us all the while, 
And cheer us with thy loving smile, 

As on the circling years gone by. 



FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH. 35 

Uphold us when with weariness 
We fall or falter by the way, 
And may Thy presence, every day, 

Our pathway cheer, our duties bless. 

On heavenly manna may we feed, 

And waters of salvation drink ; 

Give comfort more than we can think, 
And send us only what we need. 

Our pleasures temper, dry our tears, 
Drive from our hearts all fear of ill, 
With love our cup of blessing fill, 

And guide us through the rolling years. 

Beneath the shelter of this home 
The shadow of Thy presence cast ; 
As Thou hast blest us in the past, 

Bless us a hundred years to come. 




36 FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH. 



isTon i Sunday S-gbool. 



BY HOX. J. C. BLAISDELL. 



As early, perhaps, as 1815, a Miss Tilson, after- 
ward Mrs. Job Borden, who kept a public school in the 
second building from the corner of Borden street, on 
South Main, invited her scholars, who had wandered 
about on the Sabbath, to come to her school rooms on 
the Sabbath for Bible instruction, and then to go with 
her to church. There is no record of any organization, 
but acting independently, with true Christian zeal, 
there were thus planted, by her personal efforts, seeds 
which blossomed into glorious fruitage. 

Early in the spring of 1827 — a year memorable for 
an interesting revival, and for the building of the 
first meeting house, on South Main street, — a Sunday 
School connected with the Baptist church was organ- 
ized ; its constitution providing ." that the school shall 
commence at 8 o'clock and close at 10 1-2 in the morn- 
ing ; that it shall be enjoined upon the scholars to 
attend public worship ; that any male member who 
neglects to attend shall be subject to a fine of six 
cents, unless excused by the President ; and that none 
but persons of steady and moral habits shall be ad- 
mitted members of the Society." The constitution 
provided for the election of proper officers, who, by a 



FIEST BAPTIST CHUBCH. 37 

sub-committee of three, were to take charge of the 
school, which was to hold its sessions from April to 
October. 

This school was held in a building called •• The 
Cradle of Liberty," on the corner of Pleasant and 
Second streets. Under this constitution, the school 
continued its work till 1829, when a new constitution 
was adopted making the school an auxiliary to the 
-Rhode Island Sabbath School Convention. 75 In 1836 
it withdrew from the Rhode Island Convention and 
united with the Massachusetts Union. At the same 
time, Jonathan Brayton was elected the first Superin- 
tendent, the school having previously been conducted 
by the committee of the board of officers. They afeo 
established branch schools, one at the Globe, one on 
the back road, one called the North School, and one at 
Steep Brook ; these all under the care of superintend- 
ents and assistants sent from the home school. All 
the schools were closed during the winter, and re- 
opened in the spring. 

In 1837 additional branch schools were established; 
one called the Gardner School, and one at Bowenville, 
for the support of which the late M. # H. Ruggles an- 
nually contributed live dollars, and one over the ponds. 
In December the superintendents of the various branch 
schools made their reports to the Board of Managers 
of the home school. It was in this year that delegates 
were first sent to the Teachers' Convention connected 
with the Taunton Baptist Association. Stimulated by 
the glowing results of previous work, by the widening 
field and great increase of Christian workers, in the 
spring of 1840 the Board entered with reiieAved zeal 
upon the work of sustaining the various branch schools. 
TTith the superintendents, they sent out committees 

4 



38 FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH. 

to reach all the people of every grade, bringing them 
under religious influence, till the village was environed 
with Sunday Schools. The various superintendents 
were instructed to bring the bills of their expense to 
the treasurer. It was made the duty of a special com- 
mittee to And anion g the members of the church such 

CI? 

persons as seemed most suitable for superintendents 
and teachers, making such changes as seemed essential ; 
and so successful was the earnest, united work, that at 
the annual meeting in March, 1841, it was reported 
that more than eleven hundred teachers and scholars 
were connected with the various schools under the 
supervision of the Society ; and after more than forty 
years, at Steep Brook, at the Globe, at ISTew Boston, 
over the ponds, and elsewhere, are clearly visible the 
fruits of those Sunday School Missions in the regular 
worship of organized churches. In 1846 the time had 
come, with increasing population of a prospective city, 
for new organizations. The Second Church w T as estab- 
lished, and to it was given the care of such branch 
schools as then existed. 

In 1847, the pastor, Dr. Hotcbkiss, was requested 
" to visit every v member of the church and congrega- 
tion, and procure a pledge from them that they will 
attend the Sunday School, or give sufficient reason for 
not doing so." 

In 1859, a Mission School was established in the 
basement of a building at the corner of Spring and 
Mulberry streets, and it now holds its sessions in a 
building erected for it by the First Baptist Society, it 
being now known as the " Columbia Street Mission 
School," and is the only mission school now under the 
care of the church. In 1868, a Mission School was 
established by the Board at Bowenville, which resulted 



FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH. 39 

in the organization of the Third Baptist Church in 
1871. In 1873, by a change in the constitution, the 
school came under the government of the church. The 
infant department has been an important and pecu- 
liarly interesting branch of the school, the superin- 
tendents of which have rendered themselves worthy of 
special mention. The first of these, Miss L. H. Lovell, 
is remembered with special interest. Two years be- 
fore she became Superintendent of the Infant Sunday 
School, in her oavu secular school she organized the 
little Meh-Sway-ee Society, which for forty-five years 
has kept a gospel light shining in heathen lands. Fol- 
lowing her, as faithful and successful superintendents 
of that department, have been Mr. T. A. Francis, Miss 
A. C. G. Canedy, Mr. Joseph L. Buffington and Miss 
Ellen M. Shove. 

Another important branch of the school has been 
the large Bible Class. It was first called the "Bethany 
Bible Class," under the instruction of Bro. Jesse F. 
Eddy, afterwards taught by Bro. J. E. Dawlev, and 
for several years has been under the direction of Bro. 
J. C. Blaisdell. 

The honored Superintendents of the whole school, 
retained in their places by successive annual elections, 
and released when removal from the city, or other 
providential events have rendered it necessary for them 
to resign, have been : 

Jonathan Brayton, 1836—1839 

John Eddy, 1839—1843 

George G. Lyon, 1843—1846 

JohnEddy, 1846—1847 

Joseph E. Dawlev, .1847—1849 

Henry Pdchards, 1849—1856 

J. C, Blaisdell, . ., , 1856—1873 



40 FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH. 

George S. Davol, ..1873— 1874 

Spencer Borden, 1874 — 1876 

Jesse F. Eddy, 1877—1878 

Walter J. Paine,. 1879—1880 

Joseph L. Buffington, 1880 

With these faithful and successful men, are held 
in grateful remembrance the noble company of their 
co-workers, assistant superintendents, teachers, mem- 
bers of various boards and committees, — such indis- 
pensable helpers, who have shared so largely in this 
good work, which still goes on with such increasing 
promise as should enlist the hearty co-operation of all 
true disciples, since its importance is greater than can 
be measured by years or centuries. 




FIKST BAPTIST CHUECH. 41 



APPENDIX. 



tfcntcnnial ^niurersant. 

A committee on Decorations was appointed, con- 
sisting of the following persons : — Mr. and Mrs. Geo. 
W. Dean, Mr. and Mrs. Geo. B. Durfee, Mr. and Mrs. 
Edward A. French, Mr. and Mrs. Enoch J. French, 
Mrs. J. F. Eddy. Misses Dora Durfee, Mary Tripp, 
May Lindsey, Emma Davol. Messrs. William Lindsey. 
Jr., Jesse E. Blaisdell and J. Clarence Read. They 
earnestly entered upon their work, and, with the assist- 
ance of many willing helpers, most satisfactorily com- 
pleted it. Heavy festoons, vases of beautiful exotics, 
bouquets, wreaths, mottoes, and the portraits of 
pastors and deacons, arranged most tastefully, gave to 
the church a charm, of which an artist caught a beauti- 
ful picture. 

The organist — Mr. Bennett — and Mr. V. W. 
Haughwout were a committee on music. They ar- 
ranged to have the various services interspersed with 
the more celebrated ancient church music, which con- 
tributed very peculiar interest to the occasion. 



42 first baptist church. 

Sunday Morning. 
Memorial Sermon by the pastor. Text, Ex. 12 : 14, 
u And this day shall be unto you for a memorial? 

Sunday Afternoon. 

Historical Addresses by Hon. J. E. Dawley and 
Hon. J. C. Blaisdell. 

Sunday Evening. 

Sermon by Rev. E. G. Robinson, D. D., President 
of Brown University. Text, 1 Cor., 10 : 21, " What- 
soever ye do, do all to the glory of God? 

By masterly argument, historical facts and forcible 
illustrations, it was clearly shown that, for many best 
reasons, it is the highest, the only true life, to do all 
things for the glory of God. 

Tuesday, Eeb. 15. 

This was strictly the anniversary day. A reunion o^ 
the older present and past members of the Society was 
held in the parlors of the meeting house in the after- 
noon, at four o'clock. Dea. Henry S. Buffinton, of 
the Committee of Arrangements, spent much time in 
securing the attendance of the venerable members. He 
gathered these facts of that occasion : 

" More than two hundred attended, three-fourths 
of whom were upwards of sixty years of age. Among 
the company were forty persons whose ageg averaged 
seventy-five years. There were present thirty-eight 
past members, who were dismissed to organize the 
Second Church, thirty-five years ago. The oldest 
person present was Phebe Prince, a colored sister, who 
was formerly a slave in ISTew York, and who is now 
about ninety years of age. Three deacons of the church 
were present, who had obtained a ripe old age : — 



FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH. . 43 

Abiathar Hall, eighty-three; Seth Pooler, seventy- 
eight ; and Stephen L. French, seventy-seven years old. 
Having spent two hours in delightful social inter- 
bourse, the venerable company sat down to tea, at the 
head of the table being eight persons who united with 
the church more than fifty years ago." 

It was a remarkable occasion, when many of those 
fathers and mothers were together for the last time. 
After tea, a few of the more infirm were conveyed to 
their homes ; the others joining the larger audience up 
stairs for 

The Evexixg Service. 

The choir sang M Strike the Cymbal." Rev. James 
Boomer offered prayer. Brief addresses were made 
by Dr. Mason, Rev. Mr. Padelford, Rev. E. M. Hunt 
of the Second, and Mr. Dyer of the Third Church, Dr. 
Adams and Rev. Mr. Burnham of the Congregational 
Churches. Letters were read from former pastors 
and friends, and also these lines, written several years 
ao;o by the late Pastor Hauo-hwout : 

Why should we fret, and fume, and worry, 

And rack our bones on sleejuess couches, 
And steam through life with rush and hurry, 

Only to die with well-filled pouches ? 
A pluck or two, — the world is bare ! 

And if we lived in pain or laughter — 
Or lived at all — in fact, who'll care 

A thousand years or sa hereafter ? 

Like caterpillars, from our vitals 

We spin the web that we delight in, 

To find, at last, our sole requitals 

A shroud to wrap our souls from sight in ; 



44 FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH. 

And life is short — we soon spin out, — 
And if we spin with tears or laughter, 

'Twill be the same — what man can doubt ? 
A thousand years or so hereafter. 

We laugh to-day, and weep to-morrow, 

And smiles and tears are cheaply bought; 
We laugh because we know no sorrow, 

And weep to find we've laughed for naught. 
But life is short, and death will scatter 

Our sighs, and smiles, and tears, and laughter ; 
And when we're through, what will it matter 

A thousand years or so hereafter ? 

There's but one thing worth holding fast, 

When all is said, and all is done — 
The hope that when this world is passed 

A better world will be begun ; 
Though life is short, and death will scatter 

Our sighs, and smiles, and tears, and laughter 
That's something that will greatly matter 

A thousand years or so hereafter. 

Finally, a poem was read, and touching allusions 
were made to departed friends, by Mr. A. K. Slade. 

The company then returned to the vestry rooms 
for refreshments and social reunion, and thus closed 
Memorial Services of very peculiar and indescribable 
interest. 




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